Supply Chain Manager, Robotics Hardware

Field AI; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Field AI in Irvine, CA is seeking a Supply Chain Manager to ensure uninterrupted material flow from prototype to production for robotics hardware. You will own planning, supplier performance, inventory optimization, and cost management across in-house and contract manufacturers.

The ideal candidate combines strong execution with strategic supplier management, excels in fast-paced environments, and can collaborate cross-functionally with engineering and finance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in supply chain, engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 3+ years of hands-on procurement or supply chain experience.
• Experience with hardware procurement, vendor selection, and make-vs-buy decisions.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP, inventory planning, and demand forecasting.
• Proven ability to negotiate with vendors and contract manufacturers.

Responsibilities

• Determine order quantities and RFQ/RFP pricing aligned with forecasts and production schedules.
• Drive cost reduction through should-cost analysis and BOM cost modeling.
• Manage relationships with PCB/board fabrication houses, CNC shops, and contract manufacturers.
• Handle RMAs and support supplier quality, FAI, and component qualification.
• Provide supply chain visibility with metrics and reporting to executive leadership.
• Ensure payloads and systems are built on schedule to meet downstream demand.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Program Management, and Finance to align plans.
• Manage production schedules and material allocation during constrained supply.
• Support NPI by ensuring supply chain readiness from prototype through production.

Skills

Procurement

Supply chain

Vendor negotiation

Forecasting

MRP/ERP

Inventory management

Cost modeling

Cross-functional

Hardware procurement

Education

B.S./M.S. in related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

PLM systems

Job description

About Us

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk‑aware, reliable, and field‑ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data‑driven approaches or pure transformer‑based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already globally‑deployed solutions delivering real‑world results and rapidly improving models through real‑field applications.

Supply Chain Manager, Robotics Hardware

The Supply Chain Manager will be responsible for ensuring uninterrupted supply continuity across both in‑house and outsourced manufacturing operations. This role will drive material planning, supplier performance, production readiness, inventory optimization, and cost management to ensure payloads and systems are built on schedule and meet all downstream demand requirements.

The ideal candidate combines strong operational execution with strategic supplier management, excels in fast‑paced environments, and has experience supporting complex electromechanical products from prototype through production scale.

What You Will Get To Do

1. Supply Continuity & Material Planning

• Sourcing & Order Strategy: Determine order quantities and negotiate RFQ/RFP pricing, weigh over‑ordering vs. under‑ordering risk, and align sourcing timelines with S&OP/demand forecasts and production schedules.
• Cost Reduction & Risk Planning: Drive cost reduction through should‑cost analysis, BOM cost modeling, and bulk pricing, while managing lead times, safety stock, and second‑source strategies against EOL and tariff risk.
• Vendor & Manufacturing Relationships: Manage relationships with PCB/board fabrication houses, CNC/machining shops, and contract manufacturers (CM/ODM), spanning small‑batch and high‑volume production.
• RMAs & Supplier Quality: Handle RMAs for defective parts, and support supplier quality (SQE), first‑article inspection (FAI), and component qualification processes.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on inventory accuracy, supplier performance, forecast accuracy, and operational efficiency.

2. Production & Demand Fulfillment

• Throughput Continuity: Ensure payloads, assemblies, and finished systems are built and delivered to meet all downstream demand requirements.
• Cross Functional Alignment: Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Program Management, and Finance to align production plans with forecasted demand.
• Scheduling & Prioritizations: Manage production schedules and material allocation during periods of constrained supply.
• NPI Support: Support new product introductions (NPI) by ensuring supply chain readiness from prototype through production.
• Executive Visibility: Provide supply chain visibility, metrics, and reporting to executive leadership.

3. Asset Management

• Chain of Custody: Own chain‑of‑custody tracking for components, prototypes, and payloads. Recording ownership and location through receiving, integration, and handoff to customers.
• Asset Tracking Systems: Implement barcoding and tracking systems for high‑value assets and maintain change‑tracking systems for Hardware team inventory.
• Purchase & Cost Records: Build and maintain systems tracking purchase history (quantities, costs, and rates paid over time) supporting spend analysis, budgets, and procurement KPIs.

What You Have

• Education: B.S., M.S., or equivalent experience in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience Level: Minimum of 3+ years of hands‑on experience in procurement or supply chain management.
• Procurement & Supply Chain Experience: Experience in hardware procurement and supply chain management, including strategic sourcing, vendor/supplier selection, and make‑vs‑buy decisions.
• Logistics & Forecasting: Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems, inventory planning, and demand forecasting.
• Vendor Negotiation: Experience negotiating with vendors, fabrication houses (PCB, CNC), and contract manufacturers, including contract terms, SLAs, and pricing agreements.
• Asset & Inventory Systems: Strong organizational systems experience such as asset tracking, inventory management, or equipment/asset management at scale, including barcoding and chain‑of‑custody systems.
• Financial Acumen: Comfort with cost modeling, BOM cost analysis, budgeting/forecasting, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to work cross‑functionally with engineering, finance, and legal to align procurement strategy with product roadmaps.

What Will Set You Apart

• Scaling: Experience scaling supply chains from prototype or low‑volume production to large‑scale, high‑volume manufacturing across multiple vendors.
• Field Environments: Experience supporting hardware deployed in harsh, diverse industrial field environments such as construction, energy, and mining, across global deployments.
• Deployed Robotics: Experience supporting robotics deployed in real world settings such as autonomous vehicles, drones, or ruggedized robots, spanning wheeled, quadruped, or humanoid embodiments.
• Systems & Tools: Experience with ERP/MRP or PLM systems, spend analysis, procurement KPI reporting, and cross‑functional roadmap alignment.
• Legal & Compliance: Experience working directly with Legal on procurement contracts (MSAs, NDAs, IP/liability terms), and familiarity with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and conflict minerals compliance.
• Certification: APICS/ASCM, CPSM, or related supply chain certification.
• Cross Functional Hardware Knowledge: Familiarity with hardware domains such as mechanical components, electrical systems, sensors, robotics/actuation, LiDAR, or embedded computing.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $100,000-$150,000. The actual offer for this position will be based on factors such as relevant experience, competencies, certifications, and how well the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above. Part of our compensation package also includes full benefits, equity, and generous time.

Field AI Onsite Work Philosophy

At Field AI, we believe the most effective way to collaborate and solve complex challenges is by working together in person. This is a fully onsite role, and candidates will be expected to work from our Irvine, CA office. In‑person engagement is essential to our success, and we offer flexible working hours to support focus and work‑life balance.

Why Join Field AI?

We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world‑class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade‑long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self‑Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are headquartered in always‑sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates.

Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close‑knit team on an exciting journey!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.